Canada to impose more sanctions on Ukraine

People carry a dead body covered with sheet during the transfer of over a dozen of corpses from a hotel lobby to a local hospital following clashes with riot police at Independence Square in Kiev February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis

Daniel Proussalidis, National Bureau

OTTAWA — Canada will try to turn the screws on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich with new sanctions on his regime as police continue to crack down on protesters in Kiev.

"Our government will be imposing an expanded travel ban, which will prevent senior members of the Ukrainian government and other officials who bear political responsibility for the violence from travelling to Canada," Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said Thursday.

The measure builds on a similar, but more limited, travel ban announced last month.

"We will also be imposing economic sanctions on the Yanukovich regime and its supporters," Alexander said.

The minister and former diplomat says the measures are needed "to demonstrate that Canada will no longer tolerate this violence and blatant disregard for human rights and democracy."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also issued a statement about Ukraine, shortly before returning to Ottawa from the North American Leaders' Summit